Of course.
Seems to me like the “take the oil” president might be planning to seize Kharg Island and – hear me out – take the oil.
In announcing the bombing raid on Kharg Island, Trump said he had directed the Pentagon to avoid damage to the island’s oil infrastructure, for (get this) “reasons of decency.”
Kharg is just the end of a pipe. There’s only oil there if the Iranians pump oil into it.
Trump wants unconditional surrender and to install his own dictator. He probably has a fantasy of stealing Iran’s oil for his own profit.
The administration is preserving the option. Once Iran is beaten into submission*, the US will need that infrastructure for the aforementioned looting.
*Yes, I know this is delusional. We’re trying to explain why delusional people do delusional things.
He gave the matter as much thought as one does when tying one’s shoe. “Reasons” stretches the term to its limits, but my guesses are:
1- DJT thought he would be the conquering hero, beloved by the entire world for murdering the Supreme Leader and that Iran would turn into a western-aligned nation
2- Racism is always a good bet for DJT’s actions. These people are not as fair-skinned as he and are swarthy to boot. Plus something something 9/11.
3- Other presidents declined to start war with Iran. Since he is infinitely superior to them, they must be wrong and he must be right.
4- Belief that the entire nation would rally around the flag and opt not to change horses in the middle of the stream of war. Bush Jr was popular during the Iraq war, starting a new war would be good for Republicans and lessen his chances of being removed from office.
5- Grifting. Gaining control over all that oil and all that money means opportunities to stick his tiny hands in the cookie jar. He’s Boss Hogg, but a lot more overweight.
6- He played Truth or Dare and accepted a Dare to bomb Iran.
“Truth or dare” with DJT has got to be pretty high up on the all-time list of futile/depressing activities.
So I’m assuming Trump has several reasons.
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He is trying to intimidate world leaders. In between the capture of Maduro, the killing of El mencho and the killing of Khamenei he is trying to intimidate world leaders into not resisting him. He is using the US military as his personal praetorian guard to threaten all 8 billion people on earth by saying if these world leaders aren’t safe, neither are you.
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He is trying to distract from the Epstein files.
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He is hoping one of these nations will retaliate, and he can use that as an excuse to crack down on civil rights in the US so he can suppress criticism and prevent elections.
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Trump has a personal vendetta against Iran since they’ve tried to kill him in the past, because the US killed Iranian general Soleimani when Trump was president.
But I think the current war in Iran is probably a multi step process. I think the US and Israel will attack Iran and weaken the regime and weaken its military and paramilitary forces. Then a cease fire will be declared, then they will do it again. This current round of bombings may not end the Iranian regime, but even if it doesn’t I think the US and Israel will attack in the future until they feel the regime is weak enough that the public can overthrow it.
This seems completely impossible, politically speaking, barring a major reversal of public opinion about this war, IMO.
Except that just strengthens it. Bombing campaigns by foreign enemies have been one of the more effective means of increasing support for a government since aircraft bombing was invented.
Of course, Trump is ignorant, stupid and a bully so it’s quite likely he has no understanding of that.
I have long suspected that he does not know how to tie his shoes either. His valet does it for him. He could not bend that far down anymore anyway.
Another reason that is manifesting right now is so that Trump can put a gun to the head of the news networks and force them to say nice things about him:
He is hoping for a huge spike in popularity, like Bush got, leading up to the 2026 elections. he aint getting it.
Moderating:
A reminder that’s come up in the three related threads. We are trying to talk about issues, not just attack Trump. @BobLibDem, I listed a small part of your post, but only the first and last bit were pushing it (especially the last) but you overall kept it at least close. @Der_Trihs and @Pardel-Lux, the cracks were your entire post.
I get it, I really get it, but please, take the cracks to one of the many Trump threads if you’re just getting your shots in. It doesn’t add to the topic, and it almost always leads into an extended off topic rant on Trump. If you want to attack him, keep it specific to his motivations for the event in question rather than on his appearance, weight, or general stupidity - the Pit’s a better fit for that.
OK, got it. Thanks for the reminder of the rules.
I disagree with a couple of the reasons that others have suggested.
I don’t think drawing attention away from Epstein was the motivation. He has already claimed total exoneration, and he knows that will satisfy about 25% of the population. I also doubt that any incriminating material concerning him will ever see the light of day. In fact, I believe that he ordered the destruction of any documents that would hurt him and promised (or already secretly gave) pardons to those who destroyed such evidence.
I don’t think this is an attempt to cancel the upcoming elections. Even the Republicans wouldn’t stand for this. If we can have elections in 1862 and 1864 during the Civil War and in 1942 and 1944 during WW II, what would be the rationale for not having them in an undeclared war in 2026?
Ego and money. That is Trump’s motivation for everything. I said it previously and it is still my opinion-he is making money off this somehow, or thinks he can. And no doubt he was flattered into this by Netanyahu or MBS or both. But casting about for other motivations by Trump seems a waste of time. We know what motivates him and it’s ego and money. Revenge is sometimes cited but I look at that as a consequence of ego- how dare those acum defy me! They must be taught a lesson!
Ego and money. That’s it. Surely other motives for other players but not him.
I dont think anything leading to a criminal conviction was ever in there, but yeah, I have been saying all along the most embarrassing stuff has been cornfielded.
No, but it is an attempt to sway the elections.
“…Maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all…” (The bolding is mine.)
Two by double, huh? Wouldn’t the be four?
And here’s why trying to figure out his reasons for bombing Iran is now, always has been, and always will be speculation. (The formatting is from the original.)
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Can you imagine how infuriating it must be to have a loved one die because of a war that even the president who launched the war says, “Maybe we shouldn’t even have done that.”